Her professional writing career began as a reporter for The Denver Post, and evolved into magazine editing and teaching journalism, but it caught fire with ‘s 1996 book,
Raybon’s thoughtful book on race, love and forgiveness propelled her to national attention and launched a new career as an author. For Raybon, fame was a mixed blessing. She loved how eagerly readers embraced what she had to say, and was delighted that it became the book of the month for countless reading groups.
But Raybon is an, and when the inevitable public speaking invitations arrived, she cringed. Then she gave herself a good talking-to, and prayed a lot.
She decided to study public speaking as if it were a combination of a reporting assignment and a church obligation. She’s still more private than public, but she’s schooled herself into becoming a confident, considered lecturer.
Her latest book is a collaboration with calligrapher Timothy R. Botts, in which she contributes poetic reflections on African-American spirituals. She has been married to Dan Raybon for 36 years; they have two grown daughters and four grandchildren.
The has a muscular presence in . Its ministry extends well beyond the pulpit. Members in hardship have received haircuts, utility-bill assistance, food and workshops on finance.
It is where nearly 1,300 people gathered to pay tribute to , the former who became the first African-American president of the Denver Public Schools board.
Shorter offered night-school classes for its members, and eventually established 11 institutions of higher education, including and .
Raybon, a Denver native, calls the church “my praying ground, my hospital, psychologist’s office, social support, recreation center, and university all rolled into one.”
Q: Is public speaking really necessary for an author?
A: It’s part and parcel of book writing. When I finished “My First White Friend,” I hoped that my mother would read it, at least. Then when interest in the book began to grow, I learned that people don’t want to only read a book. They want you to come and talk to them about it. I was terrified about public speaking.
Q: How did you get over your trepidation about public speaking?
A: I decided that public speaking is similar to writing. It’s a craft. There has to be a way to approach public speaking so I can feel comfortable. It takes a lot of work and thought for me to put a talk together, but I think I’ve figured that out. I love to learn, so there was an opportunity to learn something. And now I understand how good sermons work.
Q: How is that?
A: Black oratory is pretty powerful. Good preachers shake hands with the audience. That’s a public-speaking term for ‘I see you, I hear you, I care about you.’ So, for example, I addressed an audience of 5,000 at the Hynes convention center at a Northeastern churches conference. Never in my life had I spoken to that many people. I knew, with that many people, I had to shake hands somehow.
Q: How’d you do that?
A: I looked up the names of the places nearby. I couldn’t pronounce any of them. Worchester, I learned, isn’t pronounced “Wore-chester,” but “Wooster.” So when I started, I said, “I just want to say thank you to those of you from Worchester” and all these other town names I’d learned. The wonderful thing was the audience settles down, and I settle down. The atmosphere in the room has to be warm enough so people want to hear what I have to say.
Q: Who are the writers you most admire?
A: Writers who teach me something new and make me think. Great memoirists and essayists like , , . Great novelists who write big stories — , . I loved ‘ book Such a big family story. Same with by . I also love the great thinking theologians: , , , . I loved ‘s fictional biography of , “
Q: Do you have any heroes in history?
A:. He bought his freedom with his own earnings. did the same. I absolutely admire that, the enterprise and determination that this took. Women theologians like . Favorite Bible heroes? . Willing to die to save her people: Astounding!
Q: Who are your heroes and heroines in your life?
A: My mother and father. They were soldier saints — and great partners in marriage. God bless their memory.
Q: What is your idea of happiness?
A: Writing. Especially writing to help somebody find wisdom and see God. Writing pretty is wonderful. But I want to write so somebody gets a breakthrough. I worked with a branding consultant last summer to isolate my writing identity. Finally, I figured out my message. I write to move mountains. If you’ve got one, God help me to sit down and write something that helps you face that mountain, move it, and keep going.
Claire Martin: 303-954-1477 or cmartin@denverpost.com
